Day HMS Coventry was sank 35 years ago in Falklands War

THIRTY-FIVE years ago today, HMS Coventry sank during the Falklands War.

She was the fifth ship to proudly bear the name of the city, and her loss sent shockwaves through Coventry and the wider world.

Argentina and the UK went to war over two British overseas territories in the South Atlantic - the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

It began in April 1982 when Argentina invaded and occupied the islands in an attempt to establish the sovereignty it claimed over them.

But Britain regarded the action as an invasion of a territory that had been a Crown colony since 1841.

One of five Type 42 destroyers sent to the Falklands, HMS Coventry had been launched in 1974 and accepted into service in 1978.

On May 25, HMS Coventry and Type 22 frigate HMS Broadsword, which had taken up radar duties away from the main fleet, were attacked by Argentinian Skyhawks.

Broadsword suffered minor damage but Coventry was hit by three 1,000lb bombs, two of which exploded, tearing open the port side and starting a fierce blaze.

Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the sinking, the captain of HMS Coventry, David Hart Dyke said: “We were a thorn in the side of the Argentinian airforce, and they ganged up against us to take us out.”

Mr Hart Dyke was in the windowless operations room tracking four jets racing towards the ship.

But as the planes drew nearer, they were lost in confusing radar “echoes” from the mainland a few miles away. Suddenly they reappeared on the radar, just feet above the waves.

Mr Hart Dyke said: “On my left was the air warfare officer saying ‘get the missile out’ and a chap on my right saying ‘I think they are to the north-west’, which put me off because it was wrong.

“Then the chap controlling the Sea Harriers said ‘ do you want the Harriers in or shall we take it with missiles?’ That was an awful decision to take.”

Hart Dyke was worried the Harriers could be taken out by friendly fire, so fired his Sea Dart missiles, but it was too late.

Coventry was hit by one of the bombs just below the operations room.

The ship quickly began to list and within 20 minutes had completely capsized.

Twenty crew died and 29 were injured.